Academic Requirements for Graduation

It is critical that you meet with your advisor and department student services staff member to make sure that you have successfully completed all of the academic requirements for graduation. These include (but are not necessarily limited to):

All school-wide required courses, including two terms of Public Health Grand Rounds

All departmental required courses

Any practicum, internship, residency, or research requirements

Pitt Public Health Student Academic Integrity Module

All required examinations (preliminary, comprehensive, etc.)

Essay, thesis, or dissertation

If you are receiving a joint or dual degree, all requirements for both degrees must be complete (with the exception of the MSTP program)

You must be registered for the term in which you graduate

In addition, you must ensure that you meet the following conditions:

Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0

All G, I, or Z grades must be converted to a final grade (or your file must contain a memo from your advisor stating that the course is not required for the degree)

Full (not provisional) admission status

Registration Requirement for Graduating Students

Degree-seeking student must be registered for at least one credit or for FTDR (for doctoral students completing full-time dissertation research) in the term of graduation. Students planning to graduate in June must register for at least one credit or FTDR in 6-week session 1. To graduate in August, you may register for summer term, or for any summer session, including 6-week session 1. If you applied for June graduation and registered for 6-week session 1, you can apply for August graduation without further registration.

Note: international students need permission from the Office of International Services to register for less than a full-time credit load.

Students graduating with a certificate only do not need to register in the term of graduation, as long as they registered during the 12 months prior to graduation.

If you have not registered for three terms, you are no longer an active student. Consult with your department student services staff to discuss criteria for re-admission.

Applying to Graduate

You must apply to graduate by completing an Application for Graduation (PDF - form must be printed in landscape orientation) and a Prior Degree Form (PDF) and submitting them to the Pitt Public Health Office of Student Affairs, A519 Crabtree Hall. Deadlines and instructions are listed in the table below. Late fees must be paid by check or money order payable to the “University of Pittsburgh” and be submitted with the application. Contact Joanne Pegher with questions.

Be sure to list your Pitt e-mail on the Application for Graduation and a non-Pitt e-mail on the Prior Degree Form. Your name on the application must be the same as it appears in the PeopleSoft system. You will be required to provide legal documentation (e.g., marriage certificate, divorce decree, valid passport) to the Office of the Registrar to use a different name on the graduation application.

If you are graduating with two Pitt Public Health degrees, or a Pitt Public Health degree and a Pitt Public Health certificate, you may enter all information on one application form. If degrees and/or certificates will be awarded by another school in addition to Pitt Public Health, an application must be submitted to each school. If you are graduating with a joint degree, please indicate this on the second page of the graduation application beneath the area for degrees.

Note: your Academic Department/Student Plan is PPBHL and your Department is BCHS, BIOST, EOH, EPIDEM, HPM, HUGEN, IDM; or MULTI PROGRAM. For Name of Degree/Cert, list degree and/or specific certificate. Only IDM-MPH and Peace Corps students will have an area of concentration (IDM-CHID for MIC; IDM-BID for PEL; PCORPS for BCHS; PC for IDM; PCMI for EPIDEM).

Titles: Only doctoral students who intend to graduate in April need to provide the title of their dissertation. Those submitting an essay or thesis never need to include their titles on the application.

Applications for graduation are valid for only one graduation date. If you postpone graduation, you must reapply by completing and submitting another application.

Important Graduation Dates

For a comprehensive, printable table of important dates and deadlines, refer to the graduation dates table. The table is updated as dates are released by the Office of the University Registrar.

The regular deadline to apply for April 2019 graduation (term 2194) has passed. Applications are still being accepted with a $35 fee until April 1. This is the absolute final deadline to apply for graduation. If you miss this final deadline, you will not be able to graduate until the following term.

Initial upload of your essay, thesis, or dissertation is due to the D-Scholarship system. The file may be a draft. Notify Joanne Pegher of the status of the file. Format is PDF for thesis and dissertation, Word or PDF for essays. April 2019 graduation. Term 2194.

December 2018 Graduation Deadlines & Important Dates

The regular December (term 2191) graduation application deadline has passed. Applications are still being accepted with a $35 fee until Tuesday, November 27. The final application deadline is Tuesday, November 27.

The regular December 2018 (term 2191) graduation application deadline has passed. Applications are still being accepted with a $35 fee until Tuesday, November 27. The final deadline is Tuesday, November 27.

Initial upload of your essay, thesis, or dissertation is due to the D-Scholarship system. The file may be a draft. Notify Joanne Pegher of the status of the file. Format is PDF for thesis or dissertation, Word or PDF for essays. December 2018 graduation (term 2191).

Announcing the Doctoral Defense

Doctoral defenses must be announced at least 3 weeks in advance (or as soon as you have your information). Consult with your department student services staff as soon as you know your defense date. Then e-mail the student services person the following information and copy Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Mary Derkach (derkach@pitt.edu), Joanne Pegher (jpegher@pitt.edu), and phcomm@pitt.edu. Be sure to include:

Your name and contact information
(include phone number and e-mail address)

Title of the dissertation

Your department and advisor

Date, time, and place of defense

Committee members may also be listed (preferred)

Photo of yourself (and your advisor) may also be included.
(jpg or png file at least 300x225 pixels)

The department student services staff will publish your dissertation announcement on the departmental and school dissertation calendars, and dean's office communications team will then copy the posting to the University Calendar, University Times, etc.

Exit Survey

Every graduating student must complete an online exit survey. Upon completion of the survey, you will be redirected to a separate page where you will be prompted to enter your name and department. Your identifying information will not be linked to the survey, so your responses will be confidential. When you submit the form, your department and the Office of Student Affairs will receive notification that you met the survey requirement.

Notification of Departure Form for International Students

International students whose F1 status will be ending must log into My OIS to complete the Departure Notification Form. Once the form is completed, you must forward the confirmation message to your departmental student services staff, who will then send the Office of Student Affairs a copy.

Essays, Theses, and Dissertations

Formatting
See the Pitt Public Health Academic Handbook for complete descriptions of formatting requirements. Make sure you are also aware of any departmental rules and of your advisor's preferences.

University Resources and Instructions
All essays, theses and dissertations must be submitted electronically. The University's guidelines for submission of ETDs (electronic theses and dissertations) contain important information and FAQs, including:

One printed abstract (doc). The abstract must include the essay advisor's(also referred to as essay chair) name and degree typed in the upper right-hand corner, and be initialed (not signed) by the essay advisor in black or blue ink. The abstract must contain a clear and concise statement of the significance of the paper to the field of public health, specifically using the words, "public health."

Essay approval form (PDF). Complete the form (effective December 2018) and obtain all committee signatures (no electronic or faxed signatures). This form replaces the signed committee page (which is page ii of your essay) and is still a part of the essay. (Have your Report on Requirement form with you also so it can be signed at the same time, see #6 below)

ETD approval form (PDF). Complete the form and obtain all committee signatures (no electronic or faxed signatures). Typically the committee will sign at the defense and the advisor will sign again when the document is finalized. In addition, fill out page 2: Sign Part A; Part B: select access option, with #3 only for those applying for a patent. You can pick from 1 to 5 years. Student and thesis advisor must sign.

Printed copy of an unsigned committee page (doc) including information on all committee members (this is page ii of your thesis).

Two printed abstracts (doc). The abstract must have the thesis advisor's (also referred to as committee chair) name with degree typed in the upper right-hand corner; they initial (not sign) in black or blue ink. If you have a co-advisor (co-chair) include their name also to initial. The abstract must contain a clear and concise statement of the significance of the paper to the field of public health, specifically using the words "public health."

Submit a receipt for the $20 thesis processing fee. You can pay in person (Student Payment Center, G-9 Thackeray Hall/412-624-7520) OR pay online To pay online you must call the Student Payment Center (payments.pitt.edu) and ask them to "create a line" for you. Then you can login and go to 3rd tab "Payment" and then "Payment Options" for information/instructions. Ways to pay:

ETD approval form Complete the form and obtain all committee signatures (no electronic or faxed signatures). Typically the committee will sign at the defense and the advisor will sign again when the document is finalized. In addition, fill out page 2: Sign Part A; Part B: select access option, with #3 only for those applying for a patent. You can pick from 1 to 5 years. Student and dissertation advisor must sign.

Printed copy of the unsigned committee page, including information on all committee members (this is page ii of your dissertation).

Three printed abstracts. Abstracts must have the dissertation advisor's (also referred to as committee chair) name with degree typed in the upper right-hand corner; they initial (not sign) in black or blue ink. If you have a co-advisor (co-chair) include their name also. The abstract must contain a clear and concise statement of the significance of the paper to the field of public health, specifically using the words “public health.”

The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED).
a. Click here for the survey.
b. You must provide name, institution, email address, graduation month and year, and doctoral degree type (the only option for school/college is graduate school).
c. You can begin the survey immediately, before you receive an email with the URL to the actual survey, and a unique PIN and password. You can suspend the survey before it's completed and return to it at a later time using this PIN and password.
d. Proof of completion must be submitted with your graduation paperwork either by email confirmation or by printing the certificate of completion.
i. Email confirmation: Can only enter one email address, so you can forward your email to jpegher@pitt.edu and Joanne Pegher will be notified automatically.
ii. Print certificate of completion: Give the copy to Joanne Pegher.
e. Recording the school's doctoral degrees nationally is very important. Regulations governing graduate studies state: "Prior to the end of the term in which they are graduated, all doctoral candidates must submit to the office of the dean a completed Survey of Earned Doctorates Awarded in the United States." Click here for more information.
f. The Provost's Office asks that you please complete the survey questions since your responses will enhance Pitt's national reputation. The information provided remains confidential and is safeguarded in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The data are reported only in aggregate form or in a manner that does not identify information about any individual.

The ProQuest/UMI form complete:
(Page 4) (a) Section III. Publishing Options & Signature. You will want to choose "Traditional Publishing"; and under "Select Publishing Options" you can write in either "3, 4, or 5 year embargo" so that you coincide with your access choice on page 2 of your ETD approval form.
(Page 5) Dissertation Submission Form (Codes are under Guide 2: Subject Categories, pgs 7 thru 10) . Optional: If applying for copyright, complete the Copyright Registration Form (pg 6); must include a $55 check or money order payable to ProQuest.

Submit a receipt for the $85 dissertation processing fee. [Note: this $85 fee includes $65 fee that is mentioned under "traditional publishing" on Page 4 of the ProQuest form.] You can pay in person (Student Payment Center, G-9 Thackeray Hall/412-624-7520) OR to pay online you must call the Student Payment Center and ask them to "create a line" for you. Then you can login to the Student Payment Center (payments.pitt.edu). Go to 3rd tab "Payment" and then "Payment Options" for information/instructions. You will be able to:

If your receipt does not have your name on it, be sure to write it on the receipt.

Copies of permissions for use of copyrighted materials. Copyright and/or Patent forms, if applicable.

Local Newspaper Announcement of Graduation

Some students have their graduation announced in their hometown newspaper. We suggest that you submit information to the editor of your local paper in the following format:

Ann Smith of River Forest, Ohio, received a Master of Science degree in human genetics from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. She is the daughter of Lea and Bill Smith. Ms. Smith will work at Harvard University as a prenatal genetic counselor. Ms. Smith completed an internship at West Penn Hospital, and was awarded the xyz scholarship for academic excellence.

Alumni Keep Pitt E-mail for Life

Retain access to your My Pitt E-mail mailbox after you graduate and keep it as long as you like. An alumni account also provides access to:

Wireless PittNet (while on campus)

Eduroam (ability to obtain wireless access at participating institutions around the world)

Online orders for transcripts and enrollment verification

Online grades

Account management tools

Technology Help Desk

PittPAY

You will receive an e-mail letting you know when your account will be transitioning to an alumni account sometime in the term following your graduation.

Your e-mail address will be removed from the Pitt Public Health list serve upon your graduation and you will receive an e-mail from the school when this happens. You can opt to stay on the list at that time.

Posting Defense Dates

All doctoral students must notify the University Times and various Pitt Public Health staff members of the date of their dissertation defense. Read more...

Uploading your ETD, Submitting through D-Scholarship

When using the ETD Online System, you must login using your Pitt username and password. Once you have logged in, follow the instructions for submitting your ETD documents.

Students can also use the technical support form to request assistance with LaTeX.

Preferred Names on Diplomas

Students may request preferred first and/or middle name for diplomas with the Diploma Request Form (also available in hard copy in G-3 Thackeray). Forms must be submitted in person with valid photo ID.

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed by the vendor to graduates approximately six to eight weeks after the actual graduation date. Students will be notified via their Pitt e-mail address when the diploma ships.

Certificates are printed and mailed by the Office of Student Affairs approximately six to eight weeks after graduation.

All items are mailed to the address on the graduation application. If your address changes, contact Joanne Pegher and she will inform the Registrar's Office. Also, to be certain that you receive your mailed diploma, complete a change of address with the Post Office - either in person or online.

Students with any unresolved financial obligation to the University will not receive diplomas or final transcripts.